CrabGrassAcres

Glad for a day or two "off"! I've had a splitting headache all day and my neck feels stiff. (Not menengitis stiff! Arthritis stiff.) I finally got it to pop and it feels much better.

I'm more than ready to hit the hay! G'nite.

AH, sure glad that you two are hanging in with us!

A happy birthday to you,

a happy birthday to you,

every day of the year,

may you find Jesus near,

a happy birthday to you

a happy birthday to you

and the best year you've ever had!

I'm also an RN, MtRider. I've specialized in maternal/child health, but have also worked a good bit in general nursing.

I gave my doe a booster rabies vax. Our dogs are all up to date. I hope everybody else have their animals vaccinated already.

Is anybody checking on Sharon and making sure she eats and gets what she needs? Maybe somebody can go drive her wagon. I'm sure that leg is agonous.

I'll break out canned meat for lunch. I have a huge stack of pancakes for sandwiches. Sure glad I cooked a bunch. Anybody that is hungry, give a holler.

I only got about 3 hrs sleep and am really zingy today. (IRL too, the Pyrs barked at the coyotes all night.)

I'm not letting chickens or ducks range till we get "there". The geese and turkeys are getting to stretch their legs on quiet evenings and the geese are to be penned on grass each night. They are graziers and really need the grass.

Mother, if you have spare milk, I'd love to have some for the doelings. That will save the replacer for another day. Daughter and I and my sister & family can't drink cow milk so we are guzzling goat milk. Means not enough goat milk for mine and sis's doelings that we brought.

I fed the leftover chili and cornbread to the dogs and they lapped it down and looked around for more. I gave the Pyrs some chicken feed to fill the corners and got the poultry fed and settled. Neices and Nephew did all the milking and helped their parents to care for the rest of the livestock. I set some whole oats to soaking for tomorrow's oatmeal and cooked up some more cornbread. While I was doing that, I decided to bake a large cake and more pancakes for tomorrow's lunch. Started some white beans to soak for tomorrow's dinner. Daughter and I showered while stuff was baking and I tucked her in bed. Sis and her family took their showers and sis and the kids turned in. BIL carried a camp chair over where the livestock are grazing and took first watch. Being too keyed up to sleep, I kept making pancakes. Guess I know what the pups are eating tomorrow.

Gordon was, as usual, doing perimeter patrol. The younger Pyrs were taking turns with him or hanging out under the wagon with the goats. All of a sudden Gordon went ballistic, making everybody jump. I grabbed my high powered flash light and shown it beyond him. Just a coon! He took off running pretty fast. I was glad, since I was reluctant to let off a shot. Still, folks were sticking their heads out of the wagons and tents. "Just a coon," I called and they all nodded and disappeared.

Finally, about 1 I turned in, leaving the night watch to the men folk.

WOW! I am so impressed! I reckon that young fellow has a right to be proud of himself!

Glad to see y'all made it, Stephanie!

Well the doe is looking ok. I cleaned the wounds and put more pine salve on them.

Made a big pot of oatmeal for breakfast again. My neices didn't want it so I had them do a huge stack of pancakes. The extras will be used for lunch sandwiches. I got out a jar of meat to make sandwiches.

Had my nephew fill the jugs and strap them on the wagon for baths tonight.

Makinge a big pot of chili for supper. Soaked the beans overnight then put them in the pressure cooker this morning. Let them cook 10 min then set them in the fireless cooker. I took some beef out of the freezer to thaw and I'll put that in the pressure cooker with onions and seasonings then mix with the beans in a big stock pot. While that cooks, I'll make a pan of cornbread. Glad I was able to send to town for some dry ice. Actually, my BIL and nephew went. They rode a couple of the horses. My nephew stayed outside and watched the horses while my BIL went in to get the ice. He said there wasn't much in the store by way of groceries. There was a big sign near the registers saying "no food sold without ration book". Looks like they are rationing locally now. He said there was no dog food even. He was wanting some for their dogs. I said I'd make extra cornbread. We stocked up on deer corn before leaving Texas. BIL had fussed about how much corn I insisted on. Now he is glad I brought it.

I was sitting on the wagon, hanging on to the oxen for dear life. I am NOT accustomed to handling large animals. Next time we go thru a big town, I'd appreciate someone more experienced or at least stronger handling my wagon. I'd have done better walking and keeping my goats and dogs under control.

I did take the precaution of putting my youngest 2 does in the cage with the doelings. Also two of the young Pyrs were tied inside my wagon.

Fortunately the one doe is not severely injured. I put pine salve on the cuts and they should heal ok.

Ann, those eggs are from pastured hens. They will help your cholesterol, not harm it.

We can probably squeeze some more into the freezers if we move the frozen jugs to the ice chests. I want to run back to town for dry ice too. It will keep us from running the generator. I feel the quieter we are, right now, the better.

I strapped a couple of water jugs to the outside of my wagon so the sun is hitting them. They will be nice and hot for baths tonight. Glad I put tonight's dinner in the fireless cooker so it will be ready as soon as we are thru getting the camp set up and animals taken care of.

I need a BIG mug of coffee!

I didn't hear the fake rooster. I'm so used to roosters crowing all hours, I don't pay much attention.

Supposed to be clear and sunny today.

Here's a dozen eggs. I packed a bunch in the grain barrels and the hens are still laying.

3 goats milked and 5 doelings and all the poultry, Pyrs AND daughter and myself fed. I'm ready to go back to bed! My nephew and neices are going to take over the milking and doeling feeding and help with the poultry. They will be taking care of their goats and critters too. Sis and hubby will be hitching up all 3 wagons. I'll feed the dogs and fix the meals.

Plenty of milk for everyone to drink their fill! I made oatmeal for breakfast and cooked it in milk instead of water. More milk to wash it down. That should stay with us a while.

Yikes, doesn't that fellow have any brains? At least the teens on horse back were able to head off the stampeding livestock before they scattered to the four winds. My poor goats were terrified!

Uhm, Mt Rider and CeeCee, that tiny covered wagon behind my sister's 2nd wagon is my ListerPetter diesel generator (5KW). We have 3 chest freezers in that wagon and they are full of meat. When we stop, we can move frozen meat to coolers and stick the deer in freezers and it'll last longer. The generator trailer is a fuel tank with the generator and motor mounted on it. That engine will run off waste oil one it is started with diesel. (I just couldn't leave it behind, doncha know. LOL) I disguised it with a canvas cover.

Daughter slept like a log as usual and is ready to hit the road. She LOVES to go. Loves horses, is not afraid of heights, likes people. Scared to death of bunny rabbits and little baby ducklings. Go figure.

I swapped out my wagon seat for a van seat with springs and a back.

Really like the expanded metal racks on the sides of the wagons. Fold up feature is nice too.

The painters did a good job, making the metal look like real wood wagons!

Been thinking of a cover story. Could we tell the onlookers we are doing a "reality show" filming? I'm sure there have to be a few video cameras among our group to bring out.

Have plenty of extra poultry. Glad I don't have to leave all my birds behind! Not sure how happy the birds are about it. The geese are making quite a bit of racket. They didn't appreciate me rounding up all the goslings and caging them.

Will somebody please tell me where and how to join the chat on Monday? I haven't been on the chat board yet. Thanks, firegirl

Look at the top of the page and click on "Shoutbox" and you'll be there.

Almost forgot the emergency radio with SW.

I cut 2 sheets of plywood into 4'x4' sections and put them over the tops of the barrels in each wagon. Then put lighter weight stuff and mattresses on the plywood. Most of the stuff in the barrels won't be needed on the trip.

Just bought 2 9 wk old pot bellies, 1 male, 1 female. They can ride in a cage on the poultry wagon.

CeeCee, maybe you can run to Sam's and stock up on rice, beans, flour, sugar and other staples?

I'm putting in the single burner kerosene stove too. It is lightweight and it'll save having to scrounge and haul firewood. How much kerosene should I bring? I'll want it for lanterns too.

I have a high lift jack and a come-along, though not sure my come-along is heavy duty enough.

That's a relief, Mt Rider. I was dreading having the girls kid on the trail. Let's see, my Nubian had a doeling and a buckling. My FF LaMancha had twin doelings. My Sr LaMancha had twin doelings again too. (Might as well get what I want, LOL) So I have 5 doelings in a cage on the poultry wagon.

My 2 Holstein steer calves are 2 months old, weaned and can walk with the rest of the livestock.

I just tossed the aluminum step ladder on the back of the wagon. We ladies have to be able to climb in there, right?

I think on the last pass thru the mts, we can probably drain the water tank and that will lighten the load. Once it is empty, some other freight can be put inside the tank.

Gathering up all the pvc pipe and the shallow well/cistern pump and putting them on the wagon. I keep finding stuff! LOL

A vargo would be nice! I'm thinking we will live in the wagon till we have a cabin up.

I'm throwing in all the sandbags (empty) I have 2000, plus a bunch of plastic feed bags. ( I have these in case of needing a quick shelter from a nuke event.) They can be filled and stacked for an earthbag building. I'll have to toss in some barbed wire to go between courses.

Yes on the starts of asparagus, fruits and garlic! I'll bring some onion starts. I have plenty of OP seeds, including cukes.

Thanks for reminding about the traps. I'll bring mine too. I have one, that is very heavy duty.

On sharing, my thoughts are that people being what they are, it is best if all things are not held in common. However, when first starting out on something like this, it is good if people can be generous with one another but don't obligate others to share unless they wish.

Everybody that can, should add some fencing wire to their loads. Yes, you can build wooden fences after we get "there" but that takes time and energy and we will all be busy making homes and gardens and barns. There is a reason that people use so much fencing wire. It really saves time and energy because you aren't cutting so many trees and you don't have to designate someone to be keeping the herds where you want them. A good fence and LGDs make it possible to let the stock graze while the people are doing more constructive jobs.

I have a lovely European Scythe, Mt Rider. I'll put it in. You should probably have one too, though. Be sure to get extra blades.

I want 3 teams of oxen too! My sister needs 3 teams for each of her three wagons. She has 5 drivers in her family, though the teens will probably swap out driving and herding on horseback. I like the idea of a separate wagon for poultry. It should be lightweight so can probably use one horse for it and let one of the neices drive it.

The cattle panels weigh about 20-25# each. I figured 4 for each wagon under the canvas and the rest over the canvas so they can be lifted off as needed. Three wagons can handle all of them.

The canned foods are heavy, however, they are already cooked so will save on fuel and cooking time. I expect they will be used up fairly rapidly shared among so many people. Remember that your calorie needs are going to go way up with this vigorous lifestyle. We will not want our crew to have poor energy or health due to lack of feeding.

I'm figuring 500# for clothing, blankets and yard goods. Another 500# for kitchen/laundry/tools.

500# of tposts.

175# (for each wagon) cattle panels.

500# fencing/cage materials, window glass and screen.

300# people. (Driver and passenger, since daughter has to ride most of the way.)

2000 pounds livestock feed. (5 barrels)

6000 pounds food and seed.

Before we leave, we are going to hit both feed stores in my sister's town!

My goats are due to freshen Feb 28, March 2, March 12. The other two aren't bred yet, but I expect to freshen in May and June. If the goats are fed properly, they will probably continue to milk, though maybe not as much as if they were hanging out in the pasture all day. I am concerned about them freshening while we are traveling.

The poultry will lay for the first week or two, then may take a break till after they are in their new homes for a few weeks.

Glad you are taking the Cotton Patch and Embdens Mt Rider. I'm going to take as many turkeys as I can. I have 4 breeds. I'll bring American Buffs and American Blues in the geese.